Classics Retold

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy King, the young man recited the verses, and the boatman rowed until they crossed the river and reached the opposite side.  The two men disembarked.  The girl said, "I cannot go with you beyond this point." She departed leaving Nur al-Din Ali prostrate on the ground before Abu al-Hasan al-Attar. The former was unable to stand on his feet. "My lord," said Abu al-Hasan to his friend, our lives are not safe here.  I am afraid that robbers may be roaming around."  And he continued reproaching his friend until he rose at last and proceeded with him hardly able to walk. Abu al-Hasan and Nur al-Din Ali had some friends who lived on that side of the city, so they went to the house of one of them, whom they trusted and with whom they felt comfortable. They knocked at the door. The friend opened the door and greeted them.  He was pleased to see them. Abu al-Hasan related later: He took us into his house. And when we wer...

The following night Dinarzad said to her sister Shahrazad, "Tell us the rest of the story."  She continued the story: I heard, O happy King, that the girl seated them in the gallery and went away, and they remained seated until it was dark, not knowing what to do or how to get away.  Suddenly, as they were looking, into the garden came more than hundred eunuchs who looked like bridegrooms dressed with colourful costumes, girdled with gold belts, and girded with swords. With them came more than hundred pages, each bearing a camphor candle, and with them came Caliph Harun al Rashid swaying between Masrur and Wasif, intoxicated.  He was followed by twenty lovely girls  wearing fine clothes, and adorned with jewels glittered around their necks and on their heads.  They were met by Shams al-Nahar, under the trees followed by girls bearing musical instruments.  She kissed the ground before the Caliph.  He said, "Welcome, my joy, my life's bliss, and my heart...

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy King, when Ali ibn Bakkar and his friend Abu al-Hasan al-Attar heard what the girl said, they were terrified.  But Shams al-Nahar laughed and said to the girl, "Stall them while we cover our tracks." Abul al-Hasan related later, what happened next: Still looking at the young man, Shams al-Nahar forced herself to rise, and bidding the doors of the alcove be shut and the drapes be drawn upon us, she closed doors of the hall behind her and went out into the garden.  Then she  bade the other couches be removed, seated herself in her couch, and bade one of her damsels sit and rub her feet.  Then she said to one of the maids, 'Give them permission to come in.'  The three chief eunuchs came with twenty eunuchs, all dressed in elegant and  beautiful uniforms, girdled with golden belts, with swords in their hands.  They saluted in the best of manners, and Shams al-Nahar saluted back and received them with res...

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard O happy king, that Shams al-Nahar thanked the druggist Abu al-Hasan ibn Tahir saying, "My gratitude prompts me to reward you for your exceeding kindness for the bow of your generosity has hit every mark and left no favour untouched." Abu al-Hasan bowed his head shyly and invoked blessings upon her.  Then turning to young Nur al-Din Ali ibn Bakkar she said, "May you overcome all obstacles to love and attain all your heart's desires.  Place your trust in God alone, submit to his will and decree, and bear your burden patiently." He replied, "My lady, being with you and looking at you neither consoles me nor extinguishes the fire of my heart, and I declare that I will never stop loving you until the day I die; for your love, which has mastered my soul, will never die, as long as my heart continue to beat."  Then he wept and made her weep with him, and their tears, like unstrung pearls, ran down their cheeks, whic...

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy King,  that Abu al-Hasan had said, "The damsel sang the verses that the young man asked her to sing, in a sweet melody, and when she finished, Shams al-Nahar turned to another damsel, and said, "Sing on my behalf these lines: I sing for one who shared my love And felt the pain I feel, would have Gone mad.  I raise my voice to God, And not a man, who has no mercy  If men or demon felt the love I feel  They would have anneal such love. She sang a tender melody, and sung it well.  The young man turned to another damsel and said, "Sing on my behalf these lines: Your eyes smitten, your love he Yearns.  He does sigh and moan. You are his only wish in the world For which he suffers and pines You alone who possess a soft body That bend tenderly like a bough And you have a heart of stone. The damsel sang with tenderness and delicacy, and when she finished  Shams al-Nahar sighed deeply and said to the damsel n...

I heard, O happy king, that the young ladies stood by the door, while another group just like them walked in, and among them walked Shams al-Nahar.  The young ladies clung to her, while she moved, scarved with her abundant hair, dressed in a delicate gold embroidered blue robe that revealed the clothes and precious stones she wore underneath.  She advanced, as the sun emerges from the clouds, with a proud and coquettish gait until she reached the couch and seated herself there, while the young man gazed on her and bit the tips of his fingers until he nearly cut them off.  He turned to the druggist and said, "A man needs no explanation after seeing, nor harbours doubt after knowing."  Then he recited these verses: She, she alone, the source of my pain My unrequited love and its moan. Since I saw her enchanting face, Restless my soul, peace unknown.  O, Poor soul, rest in peace,  And let my body lie alone. Then he said to the druggist, "You would have dealt m...

The following night Shahrazad said: I heard, O happy King, that when Nur al-Din Ali said this his companion replied, "I have no knowledge of her intention; nor do I know her well enough to make inferences and discover the true state of mystery; besides, so far we have seen nothing; but what is wonderful is delightful." The following narrative was by Abu al-Hasan: "As we are talking to each other, the black girl came and ordered the reclining damsels to sing, and one of them tuned her lute and sang the verses: Smitten with love, ignorant love,  My heart burned with desire, No sin did I commit, save my tears  In spite of me, revealed my secret. The young man cried out, "Bravo! This is wonderful!" She continued: Little hope, but long  for thee My sighs of passion rise to thee As if coldest breath blazing fire. Nur al-Din Ali breathed deeply and said, "Excellent!  Bravo!  You have sung with perfection."  Then he repeated the verses with tears in his eyes....